The Yona Municipal Planning Council has unanimously approved a conditional land use permit for a solar farm project along Pulantat Road, near a latte site.
The project is led by Pacific Energy Corporation (PEC) and is part of the Guam Power Authority’s (GPA) Phase Four renewable energy bid. According to PEC President Andrew Park, the project will generate 5 megawatts of electricity and is designed as part of a distributed energy system to strengthen grid reliability across the island.
Park said the system is intended to improve resilience during typhoons, earthquakes, or other disruptions. He explained that the solar farm operates at the community distribution level.
“Our solar farm is at the lowest level of voltage, which is 13.8 KV which is what our normal buildings connect to, it is on the lower distribution level. It will directly power the community within the same circuit,” Park said.
The project comes as Guam continues efforts to expand renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. Park noted that solar energy can help stabilize power generation during global fuel supply disruptions.
He also addressed concerns about environmental impacts, referencing past issues with runoff at other solar developments on the island. Parl said the company is taking preventative measures to avoid similar problems.
Park spoke on the bad reputation solar farms have developed on the island because of erosion and runoff that happened in Marbo Cave.
“This is something that we are extremely, extremely sensitive to. So we are making sure that all of our ponding basins are set up beforehand, that there’s silt fencing, fencing beforehand, so that if there are unforeseen weather conditions, the systems to catch the water is going to be there,” Park said.
The project site is located near a latte stone area, which raised cultural and environmental concerns during public discussions. Yona Mayor BJ Terlaje said the municipal council’s decision followed community engagement and dialogue with developers.
Terlaje emphasized that safeguards will be included in a formal resolution outlining conditions for the project before it proceeds to the Department of Land Management for final regulatory review. Under the process, developers cannot move forward until land management grants approval.
Park also said the company is working with the Yona Municipal Planning Council, including heritage and environmental authorities, to ensure compliance and protection of culturally sensitive areas.
“We’re again, very sensitive about any kind of ancestral artifacts. There are locations in the lot that we are blocking off to make sure that those locations aren’t disturbed while, at the same time, after the construction is completed, it will be accessible to the public,” Park said.
Officials say the project will now move into the next stages of the approval process, which include the formal resolution and review by the Department of Land Management before any construction can begin.
